Georgia Teacher Charged with First-Degree Child Cruelty

Nadine Jones, a teacher in Gwinnett County, was arrested on first-degree child cruelty charges after she allegedly hit a 4-year-old boy with a belt at the Childcare Network.

According to reports, the boy's father picked up his son on March 26th, and he noticed the boy had bruising along his back. The boy told his father that the teacher beat him with a belt.

As a Georgia Criminal Defense Lawyer, I will outline the offense child cruelty in our state in today's post.

Child Cruelty in Georgia

Child cruelty in Georgia is broken down into three different degrees.

First-degree child cruelty occurs: when a parent, guardian, or other person supervising a child under the age of 18 willfully deprives the child of necessary sustenance to the extent that the child's well being is jeopardized. In addition, cruelty to children in the first degree includes when a person maliciously causes a child under the age of 18 cruel or excessive physical or mental pain. O.C.G.A. §16-5-70 (a)-(b).

If convicted of first-degree child cruelty, then the person will be found guilty of a felony offense. The penalty is a prison term between five and twenty years.

Second-degree child cruelty occurs: when a person with criminal negligence causes a child less than 18 years old cruel or excessive physical or mental pain. O.C.G.A. §16-5-70(c).

If convicted of second-degree child cruelty, then the person will be found guilty of a felony offense. The penalty is a prison term between one and ten years.

Third-degree child cruelty occurs: when either a person, who is the primary aggressor, intentionally allows a child under the age of 18 to witness the commission of a forcible felony, battery, or family violence battery; or a person, who is the primary aggressor, having knowledge that a child under the age of 18 is present and sees or hears the act, commits a forcible felony, battery, or family violence battery. O.C.G.A. §16-5-70(d).

If convicted of third-degree child cruelty, then the person will be found guilty of either a misdemeanor or felony offense. The first conviction will be treated as a misdemeanor. Any subsequent offense will be treated as a felony with a penalty of up to three years of prison time.

Practice Note

Child cruelty charges at any degree are very serious charges to face. The reality is that not everyone who is accused or arrested is guilty of the crime.

If you or a loved one has been arrested, contact our offices today. Your best defense is representation by a Best Georgia Criminal Lawyer.